D&D General RA Salvatore Wants To Correct Drizzt’s Racist Tropes

In an interview with Polygon, the author talks about how the drow are currently being redefined in D&D, and how he wants to be part of that process.

”But on the other hand, if the drow are being portrayed as evil, that’s a trope that has to go away, be buried under the deepest pit, and never brought out again. I was unaware of that. I admit it. I was oblivious.

Drow are now split into (at least) three types — the familiar Udadrow of Menzoberranzan, the arctic-themed Aevendrow, and the jungle-themed Lorendrow. Salvatore's new novel, Starlight Enclave, helps to expand the drows' role in the narrative.

D&D’s Drizzt books were built on racist tropes. R.A. Salvatore wants to change that

‘If the drow are being portrayed as evil, that’s a trope that has to go away’

www.polygon.com

In 2020 WotC made a public statement about how they would be treating drow and orcs going forward -- "Throughout the 50-year history of D&D, some of the peoples in the game—orcs and drow being two of the prime examples—have been characterized as monstrous and evil, using descriptions that are painfully reminiscent of how real-world ethnic groups have been and continue to be denigrated. That’s just not right, and it’s not something we believe in. "

Commitment to Diversity | Dungeons & Dragons

D&D continues to be made as diverse as possible with the reminder that only a diverse group of adventurers can overcome obstacles.

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[doctorbadwolf]

Okay but will he backpedal on Cattie-Brie’s whole “it’s good, actually, to murder children” thing?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I don't think that Salvatore needs to spend all his time face-down in D&D forums -- in fact, I think that would be a bad idea for multiple reasons -- but being unaware that his portrayals of the drow have led to them all being collectively* described as psychopaths is pretty shocking.

* Minus the scrappy rebels in play at seemingly every other D&D table for decades.

 

[DemoMonkey]

"Okay but will he backpedal on Cattie-Brie’s whole “it’s good, actually, to murder children” thing?"

I have a much easier time believing children are inherently evil than Drow.

 

[Steampunkette]

Okay... I'm glad he thinks it should be buried in the deepest pit and never shown again.

But he WROTE about Menzoberranzan. About the Drow. For DECADES. And he was "Oblivious" to the fact that they were presented as an evil race?

Oblivious to the allegorical dark skin=evil and women in power=evil I -might- accept he didn't really think too hard on. But not knowing they were "Portrayed as Evil"?

Don't buy that for a heartbeat.

 

[This Effin’ GM]

"Okay but will he backpedal on Cattie-Brie’s whole “it’s good, actually, to murder children” thing?"

I have a much easier time believing children are inherently evil than Drow.

Look, I have 3 and they are terrible.

 

[Imaculata]

I like his progressive stance. Plus the drow are in desperate need of more depth.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Complete BS. He's trying to plead ignorance of how his own work of decades is seen by the readership? Ridiculous. He just wants to avoid social media falling on him like an avalanche.

 

[DemoMonkey]

"He just wants to avoid social media falling on him like an avalanche."

And you think a positive purpose would be served by said avalanche?

 

[Laurefindel]

Okay... I'm glad he thinks it should be buried in the deepest pit and never shown again.

But he WROTE about Menzoberranzan. About the Drow. For DECADES. And he was "Oblivious" to the fact that they were presented as an evil race?

Oblivious to the allegorical dark skin=evil and women in power=evil I -might- accept he didn't really think too hard on. But not knowing they were "Portrayed as Evil"?

Don't buy that for a heartbeat.

I don't think he was ignorant and oblivious to drows being depicted (by him amongst others) as irrevocably evil, but rather that he was oblivious to the fact that this was damageable.

I've got to admit that I was the same. Drows had black skin. Drows were evil. This was fully assumed but for me, they were two different and unrelated statements that just happened to be both true for the drows. What never occurred to me is that people with black skin would see a correlation and be hurt by it (not to mention the ethical implications of an always-evil society, regardless of their appearance).